UnityPlace Behavioral Health Services Gets New President

Des Moines, Iowa-based UnityPoint Health, which provides medical and behavioral health services in various locations throughout the Hawkeye State, Illinois and Wisconsin, has appointed Ted Bender to lead UnityPlace Behavioral Health Services.

Bender took over as president of the Peoria, Illinois-based nonprofit organization effective January 2.

Offering inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services as well as addiction recovery assistance, UnityPlace was created last year following a partnership between UnityPoint Health and two Peoria community mental health clinics, Human Services Center and the Tazwood Center for Wellness.

UnityPoint Health operates 21 hospitals and also provides home health care services in 11 metropolitan and rural areas. Formerly known as Iowa Health System, the provider rebranded as UnityPoint Health in 2013.

Bender comes to UnityPlace from The Treehouse, a Forney, Texas-based alcohol and substance use treatment provider, where he was CEO.

“Dr. Ted Bender’s valuable experience in managing dual diagnosis treatment centers and his passion for strategic planning will be valuable assets to take UnityPlace’s services to the community to the next level,” Keith Knepp, president and CEO of UnityPoint Health-Central Illinois, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to have such a strong leader join us to support our efforts to improve patient access, experience and care in central Illinois.”